Right now, the two of them were in the former slave cell, packing their things to move to the first sub-level.
Although, they didn't really have anything to pack. It was just some tattered clothes.
"Yellow Cannon, the ship is currently short two captain's assistants. From now on, you and your brother will fill those roles. You'll relay my orders and assignments to the others, and naturally, I'll have some tasks for you to handle yourselves," Shi Ming said, looking at the two of them.
Yellow Cannon and Yellow Spear were both stunned.
'Captain's assistants?'
'Is this a position we're even qualified for?'
The two were completely dumbfounded by this incredible windfall.
"Willing! We're willing! We accept!" Yellow Spear, the more quick-witted of the two, grabbed his brother and, with a THUD, dropped to his knees on the floor to pledge his loyalty to Shi Ming.
'This is an incredible assignment! We'll be the captain's personal aides. Who would dare to bully us now?'
As for Shi Ming, his assistants had to be people he could trust.
They didn't need any other skills, only loyalty.
Based on his observations on New Island, both brothers were resourceful. When reporting intelligence, not only had they not backstabbed him like that scar-faced man, but they had also taken the initiative to conceal the matter of the mimicry dust. Furthermore, they were the ones who had provided that crucial dust, which had been a great help to Shi Ming.
Shi Ming was the type to repay a kindness, so he gave them the two cushy assistant positions. It wasn't like the job required any technical skills, anyway.
At the same time, he planned to form a new exploration team and a logistics team. He had already decided on the leaders: Stone Pillar and Lin Hai.
There was no other choice. The ship was short on talent right now, so he could only cultivate it slowly himself.
But there was an advantage: a smaller crew was easier to control. If he had to take over a team of one or two hundred, a mixed bag of all sorts of characters, it would be a massive headache. A huge disaster could erupt at any moment!
Having dealt with all the urgent matters, Shi Ming finally let out a thorough sigh of relief.
And just as he was about to return to the captain's quarters for a rest, a system prompt appeared before his eyes again.
[BEEP.]
[Congratulations, Host. You have successfully become the true captain of a wandering ship. A new story has set sail.]
[System Revival Progress: 100%]
[Arm of Power, Activated]
[Eye of Intelligence, Activated]
[Brain of Creation, Activated]
[All skills have been activated.]
Shi Ming blinked.
Three days after his rebirth, his system had finally completed its 100% revival, bringing him three powerful skills.
The Arm of Power provided ten times his strength.
The Eye of Intelligence provided valuable intelligence.
'So what does the Brain of Creation provide?'
[Brain of Creation.]
[Grants the miraculous creative power of a maker! When you focus on an upgradeable item, the Brain of Creation will accurately determine its grade and list the materials required for an upgrade. Consume the corresponding materials to upgrade the item. Daily Usage Limit: 3.]
...
Shi Ming was increasingly convinced that the Eye of the Divine Pendant that had burst into his hands back then was no ordinary item.
These cheats it provided were each more powerful than the last. Just from reading the description of the Brain of Creation, countless possibilities and ideas flooded Shi Ming's mind.
But thinking about it a thousand times was no substitute for trying it once.
He decided to test the miraculous power of the [Brain of Creation] for himself.
Shi Ming focused his attention on the clothes he was wearing.
[Ordinary Nautical Suit.]
[Made of cotton and linen. Provides a degree of warmth, offering protection against the cold of ocean nights and the rays of the sun.]
[Level: 1]
[Upgrade requirements: Sea Crystal Stone x3, common seaweed 100g.]
'The upgrade only requires so few materials?'
'Seems simple enough.'
"Yellow Cannon, Yellow Spear."
"Here, Captain!"/"Present!" The two stood ramrod straight.
"Stop packing this junk. Go to the warehouse, get 10 Sea Crystal Stones and about a pound of seaweed, and bring them to my office," Shi Ming ordered with practiced ease. He added another instruction, "If they don't cooperate, just tell them to come to my office themselves."
"Yes, Captain."
Shi Ming's captain uniform didn't fit him very well. His own frame was more solid and muscular, with little excess fat, so the previous captain's clothes looked bulky and oversized on him.
But he was exceptionally satisfied with the new shoes on his feet. The soles were reinforced with rivets, and the sound of them striking the wooden floor as he walked was crisp and loud.
In his past life, he had always worn light, silent shoes to make his missions easier. Trying on this heavy, sturdy pair gave him an indescribably novel feeling.
'Nice.'
Back in his room, he took a new glass and poured it a third of the way full with his treasured "Bagliat 2037." The rich, mellow aroma of red wine immediately filled the air.
It was a wine from a legendary vintage. Its bouquet, a blend of rich oak and fresh violet, was a unique contrast to the salty, fishy sea air.
'No wonder everyone wants to be captain.'
Shi Ming swirled the glass and took a small sip.
He wasn't in the habit of drinking; pouring a glass now was simply for the occasion.
Before long, he heard a crisp knock on the door.
"Come in."
Yellow Cannon and the crewman in charge of the warehouse came in, carrying a small wooden chest between them.
The chest contained dozens of Sea Crystal Stones and a large pile of fresh seaweed that had probably just been harvested.
These materials were enough for Shi Ming to run seven or eight experiments.
"Good work. You're dismissed."
The two men set down the chest, exited the captain's quarters, and gently closed the door. "See? I told you the captain needed it. You didn't believe me and insisted on coming along."
"It's not that I didn't believe you. I just wanted a chance to make a good impression on the captain."
The crewman in charge of the warehouse knew that the two former slaves had suddenly become the captain's favorites, and his heart was filled with envy.
'Some people just have all the luck. They shared some hardships in the past and now they've shot to the top. Not only are they free from slavery, but they've landed a cushy job! It used to be others fawning over me, and now I have to be the one doing the fawning!'
...
The last ray of the setting sun shone through the window, illuminating the Sea Crystal Stone in Shi Ming's hand.
It was a peculiar kind of Crystal Stone. A natural crystal precipitated from seawater through some unknown method, its composition was unlike anything Shi Ming was familiar with. It didn't exist on the periodic table he knew.
One could only say that the Celestial Calamity had brought too many changes and overturned too many truths.
Shi Ming picked out three sharp-edged Sea Crystal Stones and about 100 grams of seaweed. He placed them together with his nautical suit and focused his attention on the collection of items.
He activated the [Brain of Creation]'s ability.
[BEEP.]
[Upgrade materials satisfied. Upgrade "Nautical Suit" immediately?]
"Yes."
[Upgrading. Upgrade complete.]
Shi Ming stared intently at the process, but he still couldn't discern the principle behind the upgrade. All he saw was the three Sea Crystal Stones and the green seaweed instantly fuse with the nautical suit, and just like that, it was upgraded!
Shi Ming picked up the new nautical suit and put it on over his shirt.
"Incredible! The suit was a poor fit before, but now it's perfect. And it's lighter, too."
[Enhanced Nautical Suit.]
[Made of cotton and linen, fused with the ocean's mystical energy. Its warmth is enhanced, as is its UV resistance. Breathability is also greatly improved, preventing overheating even at noon.]
[Level: 2]
[Upgrade requirements: Sea Crystal Stone x10, common seaweed 500g.]
'An upgraded nautical suit can be upgraded again?'
'Good thing Yellow Cannon brought plenty of Sea Crystal Stones and seaweed. There's more than enough left for another upgrade!'
Shi Ming repeated the upgrade process. He was curious to see just how far a single piece of clothing could be upgraded.
[Enhanced+ Nautical Suit.]
[Made of cotton and linen, significantly infused with the ocean's mystical energy. Balances warmth and coolness while adding a small amount of Defense Power, capable of resisting attacks from ordinary blades.]
[Level: 3]
[Upgrade requirements: Sea Crystal Stone x30, mutated seaweed 100g, Triangular Sea Star x1]
'It can be upgraded again?!'